All Others Hinge Upon These

Scripture:
Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV)

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

Devotional:

What is the greatest commandment we are given?  To love God with everything that we are is the greatest command we are given.  The second is to love our neighbors, others, as ourselves.  It is upon these two commandments that all the other laws hinge.  Have you ever thought about that?  How can eight commandments from God be directly affected by two?  How can these two commands be the pivotal point in everything else?

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” If we love God with everything that we are there will be no room for any other so called gods.  We wouldn’t have any desire to place anything above God anyway.

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God,” if you truly love someone you will not want to say or do anything to harm them.  So if we love God with all our heart we will not have any wish to misuse His name.

“Honor your father and your mother,” loving your neighbor as yourself.  Parents are the greatest neighbor.  We wouldn’t want to hurt ourselves or mistreat ourselves.  

“You shall not murder.”  Well would you want to kill yourself?  Would you want someone to kill your or hurt you?

“You shall not steal.”  How do you want to be treated?  Do you want your things stolen?  Do you want to rob yourself?

Yes there are times when we feel we cannot continue and want our lives to end.  At times we may not care what happens to our possessions.  But if you are honest with yourself you want a full and blessed life.  You want to be loved and to love.  As the saying goes, “treat others as you would want them to treat you.”  This fits perfectly with the second commandment from Jesus.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Look at each of the Ten Commandments from God and you will see how they are directly affected by love God with all that you are, and love your neighbor as yourself.